7 Amazing Tips for Surviving Thanksgiving on a Diet

Posted By
Fitzpatrick Mariano Santos Sousa P.C.

If you’ve worked hard all year to build healthy eating habits, you
might be dreading the holidays. Buttery mashed potatoes, cinnamon and
spiced pumpkin pies, rich gravy-drenched turkey leg drumsticks all sound
amazing, until you realize just how far a holiday overindulgence can set
you back in your weight loss progress. While we certainly don’t
think you should deprive yourself of your favorite holiday treats, establishing
a plan to prevent yourself from overindulging can help make sure you can
keep the body you’ve been working hard on through the holidays.

Try these 7 amazing turkey day hacks to get you through Thanksgiving dinner
while on a diet.

1. Eat before Thanksgiving dinner

Are you one of those people who forgoes breakfast and lunch, so you are
super hungry for the Thanksgiving feast? Experts say this is a recipe
for overeating. Pre-game your turkey day feast by having a low-calorie,
protein rich snack before the meal. Snack on some almonds, pack some hummus
and veggies and chow down on a hardboiled egg. Plan ahead, so you’re
not starving before the big feast.

2. Trade your stretchy leggings for a form fitting outfit

Dress to impress your friends and family on the big day. Save your jeggings
for another weekend and bust out your skinny jeans or a bodycon dress.
Psychologically, you will not eat as much if you are wearing form-fitting
clothing because you will start to feel uncomfortable more quickly than
if you were wearing loose fitting garments.

3. Make healthy alternatives

If you are the host for the big feast, consider making healthy alternatives
to your favorites. If you love yams, make a healthy alternative to the
butter soaked, marshmallow-topped Thanksgiving yams by swapping the butter
for an egg and the marshmallows for some crunchy pecans. If mashed potatoes
are your favorite, make half-mashed potatoes by mixing half potato, half
cauliflower.

4. Head to the end of the line

Experts say a heading to the back of the buffet line can help you eat less.
This is because food will look less enticing once it has been picked over.
Resist the urge to get the first choice of turkey meat this year.

5. Be picky

Most of us have an idea of how we want a specific Thanksgiving favorite
to taste before we bite into it. If you are on a diet, now is the time
to be picky about what foods you eat. If you bite into a spoonful of stuffing
and it is just “meh,” don’t eat it!

6. Decide on dessert or booze

Booze and dessert both pack a powerful punch of sugar to your stomach.
Decide at the beginning of the gathering if you’d rather have booze
or dessert, but not both.

7. Use the meal ender

If you have a hard time stopping when you feel full, come up with a finishing
move that will keep you from continuing to eat. Maybe it’s crumbling
up your napkin onto your plate or pouring some of your drink onto your
food – whatever it is, make sure to use it when you feel full.